Finding one’s way deeper into the Faith

On the threshold of the big… *yawn* … game, there is something of interest in a piece at the National Catholic Register, an interview with the grandson of the legendary Vince Lombardi.

Joe Lombardi is the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.

Take note of this in particular:

LOMBARDI: I first started becoming truly interested in the greatness of the Catholic faith around the time I got married 15 years ago. My wife, Molly, and I were concerned about all the health dangers of contraceptive pills, so we looked into natural family planning [which the Church approves]. A priest we met with wanted us to listen to a talk on CD from Dr. Janet Smith called “Contraception: Why Not”; but we said we were already sold on the topic. He insisted that we listen to it anyway, and we were blown away by what Dr. Smith said. Even though we were on the path it recommended, our beliefs and motives were reinforced or augmented in many ways.

Q: That was the first step toward becoming more fully Catholic?

LOMBARDI: Yes, we started looking into what the Church teaches, and our search has produced so many great results. Now, we love being immersed in Catholic traditions, including the extraordinary form of the Mass. We attend a parish that has this one Sunday a month, and the other Sundays they have the ordinary form in English, but with the priest facing ad orientem [“toward the east,” or in the same direction as the congregation] and with suitable music.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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6 Comments

  1. Midwest St. Michael says:

    Wow! Good for Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi. :^)

    This story sounds similar to ours. While discovering the truths of our wonderful faith I listened to Dr. Smith’s presentation that elicited an audible “Ulp.” My wife read the letter “Of Human Life” by Abp. Chaput to his flock while he was in Denver. Thus we were convicted of the Church’s consistent teaching on this moral issue.

    The result was five more children (two in heaven) added to our two already at home! The last three all boys (one of those “plays” priest at home).

    The Truth really does set you free! (Jon 8:32)

    MSM

  2. juergensen says:

    A chip off the old block. The old man was a daily Mass communicant. I highly recommend “When Pride Still Mattered : A Life Of Vince Lombardi” by David Maraniss, a superb account of the life of the old man.

  3. Robbie says:

    Not too long ago, the NFL Network did a show about Vince Lombardi and the topic of his faith was covered. Lombardi was a devout Catholic and even served as an altar boy for daily Masses while he was the coach for the Green Bay Packers. He was an icon for many and even the priests would look to him during the Mass to make sure they were doing it right! Lombardi was known as a perfectionist on the field.

  4. Atra Dicenda, Rubra Agenda says:

    Sounds like a good dude.

  5. ad Deum says:

    Check out recent The Remnant newspaper article on Vince Lombardi growing up and his life, all formed by Traditional Catholicism. Great and inspiring-but saddened this is lost.

  6. robtbrown says:

    Vince not only was a daily communicant but also said his Rosary every day. He spent his high school years in minor seminary but (obviously) decided he didn’t have a vocation.

    His football resume’ is fascinating. At Fordham his head coach was Jim Crowley, his line coach Frank Leahy, both of whom had played for Knute Rockne. Crowley was one of the Four Horsemen. After spending some time coaching in high school, at St Cecilia’s, Lombardi took a job as assistant at West Point under Red Blaik, then considered the best coach in the nation. From there to an assistant job with the NY Giants, then to the Green Bay Packers as Head Coach.

    Crowley was from Green Bay and had played for Curly Lambeau, the founder of the Packers. Exitus Reditus. Lambeau had also played for Rockne.

    Because of years spent in football years ago, I read everything I could on Lombardi. He was a driver and screamer, but also had a great sense of people. He knew which players could take his loud criticism and which ones could not.

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